Sheet handling apparatus



Nov'. 10, 1953 E. A. MATTESON 2,658;752

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed March 10, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EL Wl/V AMATTESON ATTO NEYS NOV. 10, 1953 MATTESQN 2,658,?52

' SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed March 10, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1953 E, A. MATTESON 58,7

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed March 10. 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 1 wnv AMA TTE'SO/V ATTORNEYS 9 Sheets-Shae 4 4 g m 1 Mm A B x m H A L i -1 m t N 9 v. w w f 8 .WI m 0 Tm mm 1/ Nov. 10, 1953 E. A. MATTESON SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed March 10. 1947 F ti A TTO7PNE Y5 N V- 0, 1953 E. A. MATTESON 2,658,752

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Mai-c510, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

El. WIN A JIATTESON E. A. MATTESON SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS- Nov. 10, 1953 9 'SheetseSheet 6 Original Fil ed March 10. 1947 INVENTOR. EL W/N AJVATTESO/V A TTOIENEYS 3 E. A. MATTESON I ,7

SHEET HAND'LING APPARATUS Original Filed March 10, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 IN VEN TOR.

EL WIN A-MA TTESON A TTOR'NEYS NOV-Q ,1953 I E. A. MATTESON ,658,7

siiEE'r' HANDLING APPARATUS INVENTOR. EL Wl/V A-MATTESON A TTOIPNEYS Nov. 10, 1953 E. A. MATTESON SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed March 10, 1947 m2? mmik INVENTOR. Fl Wl/V AMATTESO/V A TTOFENEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Elwin A. Matteson, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to The Aetna-Standard Engineering Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,475. Divided and this application March 22, 1951, SerialNo. 217,017

9 Claims.

1 This invention relates to sheet handling apparatus and more particularly to certain improvements in mechanisms for handling sheets of steel or the like while being fed to a tin plate or galvanizing line. My apparatus may also, as will be evident to those skilled in the art, be adapted for other sheet handling applications where it is desired to remove sheets one at a time from a single pack, arrange them in a column, and convey the sheets in column arrangement to a further processing operation.

In present day tin plate lines, as employed in the production of tin 1 coated steel sheets, it is customary to pass the sheets continuously through a pickling machine and then into and through thetin pot. In apparatus used prior to my invention for carrying out these operations the sheets have been brought to the head of the line in piles or packs. Mechanisms have been provided for taking the sheets therefrom one at a time and conveyingthem through the pickling machine and tin pot. Such arrangements require that the pack from which the sheets are fed not be permitted to become exhausted, as it is undesirable to permit gaps or blank spaces to occur as the sheets are fed through the tin pot.

Objects of my invention include the provision, in sheet handling apparatus of the type described, of apparatus which is readily adjustable to accommodate packs of sheets of varyingsizes; the provision of sheet handling apparatus for tin plate lines or the like which positively and effectively transfers sheets from a pack; the provision of an improved elevator mechanism for handling a pack of sheets whereby the top of the pack will automatically be maintained in proper position relative to means for removing the sheets one at a time from the top of the pack; and, in general, the provision of an efiicient, rugged, sheet handling apparatus which may be operated continuously without interruption even while fresh packs of sheets are being placed in feeding. position.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings in which my sheet handling apparatus is illustratedas incorporated in a tin plate line and in which:

Figurel is a plan view ofa tin plate line incorporating my improved sheet handling apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view, drawn to the same scale as Figure 1, and taken sub,- stantially on line 2- 2, ofFigure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in cross section, of the pack elevator and sheet feeding apparatus, the view being taken looking toward the conveyor which brings the packs of sheets to the elevator.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the discharge end of the incoming pack conveyor, the top of the elevator structure, the elevator brake mechanism, the adjustable pack stop, etc.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5, taken on line 6$ of Figure 5, a pack being shown in position on the elevator.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 'l--'i of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged. plan view illustrating the adjustable pack stop for positioning different size packs on the elevator.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detached side elevational view showing one of the auxiliary supporting means for maintaining the bottom part of a pack in feeding position while the elevator is being lowered and reloaded.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the apparatus 'shown in Figure 10, taken substantially on line H-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail showing one of the suction pick up heads of the sheet lifting or transfer mechanism.

In its general aspects, my invention contemplates the employment of an elevator mechanism for maintaining the top sheet of a pack of sheets in proper position to be picked up by a sheet feeding device, removed from the top of the pack and fed to a magnetic belt conveyor adapted to maintain the sheets by magnetic attraction against the under side of the lower reach of the belt. By this means the sheets are removed from a single pack and conveyed in properly spaced single file relation. A second belt conveyor, extending preferably at substantially right angles to the magnetic belt conveyor and. disposed therebeneath, is adapted to receive sheets from the magnetic conveyor and move them in column arrangement to any desired apparatus for further processing the sheets.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the general arrangement of my improved sheet handling mechanism as incorporated in a tin plate line includes the incoming pack conveyor A, the

pack elevator and sheet feeding or .transferring l prevent further movement of the pack.

be positionedplioperly in 'respe I apparame whichlittsjthe'sheets' one at'ati "'e" off jer 'th ttop" hr 'thelpack, "the"e1evatorh V provided witnaseries of "platfoflnsiippor frol1ersf'311' having he'll" a es extehaihgap" right mechanism B, the cross conveyor C for conveying the sheets removed from the top of the pack in aligned single file arrangement, and the longitudinal conveyor assembly D on which the sheets are conveyed parallel columns into. the doubles -Q113 df q ime tl i q wfi d a The pickling unit F and'the tin pot G may be of any desired type. Those portions of the tin-plate line indicated by C, D, E, F and G are described and claimed in copending application'seri'al No. 733,47 5, filed March 10, 194?, forjfsheetgandling Apparatus, of which the infest:fi't application a division. K

Before describing my improved sheet handling apparatus in detail, it may be "pointed earthen; 1

the driving motor I (F igate 1) 'eefiheetec; through a gear box 2 and a suitable chain and sprocket connection 3 to drive the feed rollswhigh convey the sheets in parallel columns through the pot QJIhe feed rolls p-f the pickling unit F rolls of the pickling unit and thedoublfes -tliroiiv} out d vi e. arerconneqt dp'y'afs stitch sprocketcondctionswhich are best "see ure 1 and are indicated, as ,a group by reference "1 7 'firivehchain festa hsheeiarmng p e nteriiig 'ut :smlil to the shaft 8 which carr s t e support ng and drive roll '9 or thefh 'imdifiel n' ey rD -.Agai 1 f rring to F1 uref'l, the drive inotor To 'for thesheet feeamgmeehemsmis mounted IOIlJihe topqf the, figged housing of, the ator B. *rhiemttehlh addition'tofoperating th lieet feeding m echanism as will be. described lfate'n'is connected through a "gear box '1! and chaiiirtirive l2 at its outer'end, chain l' 5 'establisli sdriving 'eehheeneh' from thespr'ockt'fli ye fa linefslfaft l6 ame structure ofth'e cro johnconnections between qsh'art l 6 mount d qna d s vr w h s a 19' I described above the general arrange iiint' er the"aphafathsshewh th a'wing's lthe yar s; ement aki he r 11 Pifiveg' h huuh gapparatus"winjhowhe scribed I I PLcks bfsheets 3,;su'pportedon s able'skids or pallets iflj'areconveyed to the 'elevatorfand heet 'feeding gu t"B bn thepackfconveyjor A V h,'inli t s'i1l str ted: embodir'neiit, comprises series orrie iy rot 'able and'suit'ably" brte'd toners '15 When a pack is to ,bepositroned eh the ei'eveteh thef siipporting platform r t eleator'is loweredtoits' bottom position, as seenfin cures 4 v e e fin alignmenfiwith' the rollers' off the c TA, peek theh e pushed orrth iv' for 1 ohtofthe rollsjz fijwhi'ch' are then locked "ti n, yf'mea'risyy JThe e v t r mec a m'c mpr s s nt a l jaghydijaulic cylinder '21 "which c'arriesjla"suitable angles to the axes 'ofthe'conveyorronszs ahid h te e we 3 anddwith pack supporting roller 6 the pack supporting rolls 26. These pack sup-' porting rolls 26 are mounted on a movable platform 3| which, as is clearly seen in Figure 6, is supported on the rollers 30 for limited movement transversely of the direction of movement ofth incomifng pack.

The sheet feeding mechanism for removing sheets one at a time from the top of the pack supported on elevator housing columns 32 and apack "guiding and locating plate 33 (see Figures 3,,5 and lp) e tends across the two of these eoluin which areadjacent the cross conveyor Q The H f this guide plate 33 is to insure that the edges of the sheets, which are, to

- "bathe 'ladingedgesthereof as the sheets are fed jro r n the-top the pack to the cross conveyor 0, arealways-maintained in the same position relative to the sheet feeding device regardless of the size of the sheets making up the pack. Thus, after apackhas been "moved onto the supporting rolls '26 from "the, incoming conveyor A and 'before the sheet feeding apparatus operated to remove sheets from-thetop thereof, 'fiuidpressure "applied to th cylinder at W'hichjgion tains a piston connected by a piston rod 35;"to

themovable -e1ev tcr p1atro rm 31 which'c'arries r the pack supporting rolls 26, 'As the platform 31 is mounteden the rollers 30 it will be 'mov'ed to the ri'ght fasfseen "in Figure 13) by the "piston rod 35 until the racers of the "pack fngages the surfaceof the guide plates; During the lifting -m iverneni of the elevator to feed "the pack upwardly and maintain the top thereof in proper position for removal of sheets therefrom 'tliefluidpressiire isfpreferably maintained on thfe "piston in cy1inderf34 s'oth'a-t even though the face '23 'offtl' 'e packmay besligth'tly outof iier ti-cal' alignment the sheets Wil1 always beheld-in properfposition to he "picked up by the reeding ima V V As no 'ove ithefpack supporting rolls 213 ofthe"elevator areflirovidedfwith brakingfmeanls so that, after the {skid "or pallet 24 "is positioned thereon, at least some of the rolls 26 may be locked to prevent further movement-ofthe pack. braking "apparatus i-sfbe'st seen in Figures 5 andLR'and cOmpriseS a pairof shoe-members 36 and 37' which extend up between adjacent rolls T26 These'sho 36'andf31' afe supported on g the upper faceof the platform 3 r and are *hjr'ovided' with ro1lers 3 S and -31 which r'est upon the nclined surfaces 38 and 39. These 4 cam j si rfa'c'es 38 'an'd 3'9 formwhereof a sliding-yoke 'memb l towhi'eh earrieeeh' eperating roa m at "5:, e g1-- This" 9 xtsndi tn ueh 1a e r 1' g eme; 4; 'on't-h platform '-3 Ifand-the HD1 91 :off'a bellc brake operating lever which'-'is pi v0tal-1y supported en e bracket 3 I earried by p1atfoiin 3 l The lower' arm fl ofthi's hell 0 kflever 'is adaptd to *engage' aflirige 44' on thehtatihiffbie?frame "45- cf thele'va- "tor structure when the "elevator-ism its ldwest or pack receiving position. Disposed between the M 43 15 a rolle H V I, s and. preventing thereto. fHoWev 'ered to its bottom p v movement of the packfrelaw e the mentor owti LFig iie 6,

flange 44 moving the upper arm 43 of the bell crank to the left. During this movement, through the engagement of the arm 43 with the shoulder permitting the brake shoes 36 and 31 to drop out of braking engagement with the adjacent rollers 26.

.From the above description it will be seen that the brake mechanism for the rollers 26 is automatically disengaged when the elevator is lowered to receive a pack of sheets. However as soon as the elevator starts its upward travel and the bell crank arm 43' moves away from the flange 44, the spring 46 will cause the brake shoes 36 and 3? to engage and lock the three center rolls 26,thus preventing shifting of the pack on the elevator platform.

When a pack of sheets is moved onto the elevator platform it is, of course, desirable to stop the pack so that it is centered on the elevator regardless of the length of the sheets making up the pack. I have, therefore, provided an adjustable stop which may be set in accordance with the length of the sheets making up the pack to center the pack properly on the elevator. It will be understood that in speaking of sheets herein the term length is used to express the dimension of the sheet parallel to the direction of movement of the pack as it moves on the pack conveyor A and the term width of the sheet means the dimension thereof at right angles to the direction of travel of the pack on the conveyor A. The pack stop mechanism is seen in Figure 5 and is illustrated in detail in Figures 8 and 9. It comprises essentially an adjustable arm 48 having a ack engaging head 49. This arm is pivotally-supported on a shaft 58 carried by the stationary frame 5| and may be adjusted to vary the position of the head toward or away from the elevator platform by means of clamp screws 52 and 53. As seen in Figure 8 the arm 48 is preferably graduated to indicate the proper setting for the length of the packs being handled.

As the arm 48, at least when set for relatively short sheets, will extend overthe top of the elevator platform when in its bottom position the arm 48 must be movable out of the way when the elevator is lifted. The pivotal support of1the arm 48 on the shaft 58 permits this movement which is positively effected by engagement of a bracket 54 with the end of operating arm 55 which in turn is keyed to theshaft 58. Thus, when the elevator is lifted from the position shown in Figure 9 the bracket 54 will engagethe arm 55 and swing the pack stop 48 upwardly as. indicated in the dot and dash lines. This movement is facilitated by the provision of a snap-over spring mechanism 56. Another operating arm 51 is provided which will be engaged by the bracket 54 during downward movement of the elevator and will return the stop arm 48 into pack engaging p sition automatically whenever the elevator is lowered to receive a new pack. In other words, when the elevator is raisedfrom the position shown in Figure 9 the top of the bracket54 engages the roller 55 on arm 55 and swings the stop arm 48 up out of the Way of the elevator. So also, when the elevator is lowered the under side of the bracket 54 engages the roller 51' and causesthe arm 48 to be swung back into pack stopping position. i

The operation of the above described elevator apparatus will now be explained. As is seen in Figure 2, .a pack of sheets 23 supported o n askid.

and the stroke'of piston 88 in cylinder BI is so or pallet 24 is moved along the incoming pack conveyor A onto the supporting rollers 25 on the elevator head. Movement of the pack 23 onto the elevator is limited by the pack stop 49 which is adjusted so that it will stop the pack with its longitudinal center line lying substantially on the center line of the elevator. Next the pack is moved transversely of its incoming direction of movement (to the right in Figure 3) until the pack face 23 engages the guide plate 33, this movement being effected by the fluid pressure unit 34 acting on the elevator platform 3| through the connecting rod 35. The elevator is now started on its upward movement, the brake shoes 36 and 31 promptly engaging the central group of pack supporting rolls 26 and preventing the pack from shifting longitudinally, and the pack stop 49 being kicked out of the way by the bracket 54.

Mounted on a platform 58 which is supported by the columns 32 is the sheet feeding mechanism which is generally indicated on the drawings by the reference character M. As the details of this mechanism do not form a part of the present invention and as any suitable apparatus for removing sheets one at a time from the top of a pack and feeding them into the nipping rolls 69 and ill may be employed, only suiiicient description will be given to show the relation of the sheet (not shown) to the crank 61 which is driven by the motor it through the line shaft [8 and drive chain 68.

In the operation of this apparatusthe elevator-is raised until the top sheet of the pack is disposed as illustrated in Figure 12, just slightly below the pass line of the cross conveyor. When the motor Iii is operated the suction cups 63' of the suction heads '63 will be caused to engage the surface of the top sheet. These suction cups are preferably of resilient material such as rubber timed that suction will be created as the cup 63' engagesthe plate and will be released when the edge of the sheet enters the nippin rolls 68-18.

. tubestd and the hollow bores in the heads 83-. It

This suction is applied to the cups 83 through will be understood that although only a single suction head Bland cup 83' are illustrated a plurality of heads ttwill be carried by the arm 64 and disposed at spaced places on the surface of i the sheet. Thus, when the suction heads 63 are lifted and moved forward as indicated by the dotdash line in Figure 12, they will pick up the top sheet of the pack and move itsleadingedge into the nipping rolls 89 and it. These rolls, as is best seen in Figure 4, are supported on the stationary elevator frame structure and are driven from the line shaft drive ll. As the sheets leave the nipping rolls 70' i5 by a suitable chain and sprocket they are picked up by the cross conveyor 0.

The maximum upward movement of the elevator is limited by a suitable limit switch 12 (Figure 12).. This switch has an operating arm 13 carrying a sheet engaging roller l4 at its outer end., -If the top sheet of a pack engages roller asserts '1 u n u wa d me m of e vat r an moves the arm '53 into a predetermined position the elevator controls will be actuated'to' stop the elevator, thus preventingpossible damage to the sheet feeding mechanism.

sheets are taken off the top of the pack the' level of the pack goes down and the suction head fit and suction cupf63 willhav'e to reach down farther to engage and pick up the top sheet from the pack. The spring 63 permits this variable movement of th head 63} while the cam roller 6-5 and the lower end of the operating rod 54 have'aconst'ant path of movement, the spring 63" being merely compressed to a greater extent at the bottom of the stroke when the pack level is relatively high than when the pack level is "low. P maintain the level within the desired range'l provide a micro-switch S, mounted on the stationary elevator housing, and a switch -a'fctuating lever s pivotally mounted on a supporting pin S Gne end of lever S is positioned to engage the micro-switch operating button S while its opposite end is disposed in the path of movement of spring mounted plunger S which is supported in a bracket S carried by and moving with" the suction head 63.

a 'When the level of the pack 23 (see Figure 12) falls, the head '63 will have to reach down farther to pick up successive sheets. This will cause the lower end S of plunger S to approach the operating end of lever S The normal position of plunger 8* may be adjusted by means of nuts s" to' give {the desired inching control of the ele- -va'tor. Suitable connections are provided from the micro-switch S to 'solenoid operated valves (not shown) for controlling the flow of fluid to the hydraulic elevator cylinder #2?! so that, when the end s of plunger S engages the lever S the micro-switch will be operated to actuate the valves to cause the elevator to be'l'ifted. The

lifting operation will :continue as long as the micro-switch is closed but will stop when the switch closes. Thus when the level of the top of the pack is liited-sufliciently so that the plunger head S fails to strike the operating lever 5 at the .bottom ofthe stroke of the suction head t3, upward movement of the elevator will not take place. Qf course, as soon as the pack level again falls enough to permit head S to strike lever S the micro-switch will operate to start D :the elevator up again. By the micro-switch inchingdevice describedabove the top of the pack is :maintained rat a level well within the operating limits of' the sheet feeding mechanism Thus the elevator is moved upwardly in a series er small increments so that the top of the pack is always maintained in proper position "for sheets to be fed therefrom into the nipping rolls 940.

Another feature of my improved elevator and .sheetfeeding mechanismisthe provisionofmeans for supporting the last relatively small bottom portion (for example the last 1") of each pack elevated position where it may :be operated d v ces su tabl moun ed t -em e eie verys pa k' e s hsae rle d en h ashra ends of the pack\ A cyl nder 15. see Figure 10) contains a piston havinga piston rod le'extendins d q l upwa d and ar y ng Quo e-1 mounted supporting finger "H at its upper end. The guide plate 33 is slotted at 18 to permit the finger H to project therethroug h into sheet supporting position as shown in Figure 10. V

Suitable 'fiu'id pressure connections and control valves, not shown, are provided for the cylinder' I5 so that the piston rod 'Hi can be moved into its "extended pack supporting position or withdrawn out of the" way as desired by the operator. The pivotal connection of the finger 11 to the end of thepi'ston rod (6 permits the finger to beswung awayirom the pack,'as seenin dot and dash lines in Figure 10, during upward movement of-the pack and then to drop into supporting position when the under surface of the bottom sheet of the pack reaches the desired elevation. While the finger T1 andits associated supporting members hold the bottom portion of the pack in feeding position the elevator is lowered anew pack loaded thereon, and the elevator again raised so that the top of the pack comes up under the bottom sheet of the last part of the preceding pack, the fingers 11 being swung out of the 7 way by the upward movement of the new pack.

The function of the pack elevating and sheet feeding apparatus is to handle packs of sheets in such a manner that a continuous and uninterupted flow of single sheets may be fed from the tops of aseries of packs into a pair of nipping or feed rolls which move the sheets in single file and in properly spaced relation to the cross conveyor. C. which carries them in single file in a direction transverselyof the general direction of movement of sheets through the tin plate line. In its illustrated embodiment, :the cross' conveyor C- comprises a pairof parallel spaced flexible belts '39 and .80 supported adjacent the nipping rolls 6!) and 10 by the drive roll 20 (Figure 3 It will be seen from :the above description of my improved sheet handling apparatus that I have provided ;a simple, rugged, and .efiicient mechanism in which 'the sheets are not subjected to handling by mechanisms which might tend to bend or :buckle'the sheets or injure their .suriaces. :A wide range of sheet sizes may be handled. With my apparatus it is only necessary to keep the elevator mechanism loaded with a on by the sheet ifeeding device while the ele- V vator is lowered a new pack loaded thereonand thexelevator again raised into operating position.

Thustfeeding operations are :not interrupted during the time required to load anew pack :onto the elevator. This mechanism consists essentially of a plurality of auxiliary pack supporting devices which are disposed on three sides of the pack. In the drawings only the supporting device which engages 'the'pack at the sideadjajcent'the nippejr' rolls 69 and is illustrated, '-it being ii'nderstood that-other=generally similar tions maybe made in the form and arrangement of parts which makeup my apparatus and that various equivalent mechanisms may be substitutedfor those herein illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention. i do not therefore wish to be limited to the particular construction and arrangement herein shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof gaming within the scope ci the appended claims. Y "-r uainz' I l. in apparatus for. handling metal sheets or the like, the combination of an elevator havin a support or a p ket sheets t ereon, eans for "conveying a pack of sheets onto' said support when said elevator is in lowered position, a guide member extending upwardly adjacent to said support and parallel to the direction of movement of said pack onto said support, motor means carried by said elevator for continuously urging said pack in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of said pack onto said support whereby the edges of at least some of the sheets in said pack are retained in contact with said guide member during upward movement of said pack on said elevator, and means for removing sheets one at a time from the top of said pack.

2. Sheet handling apparatus as in claim 1 in which said guide member extends vertically at the side of said support toward which said pack is urged by said motor means.

3. Sheet handling apparatus as in claim 2 in which said motor means take theform of a fluid pressure motor.

4. Sheet handling apparatus comprising an incoming pack conveyor, a pack elevator, a platform on said elevator, pack supporting rollers carried by said platform and adapted to receive packs from said incoming conveyor, a brake for said rollers, biasing means operating to prevent rotation of at least some of said rollers when said elevator is raised above its bottom position and to release said rollers when said elevator reaches its bottom position, fluid pressure actuated means for urging said platform in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the incoming packs,

and a vertically extending guide member positioned at the side of said elevator toward which said platform is urged by said fluid pressure actuated means and adapted to be engaged by and guide the sheets of a pack during upward movement of said elevator.

5. In sheet handling apparatus of the type described, an incoming pack conveyor, a pack elevator having a head and a pack supporting platform mounted on said head for limited movement relative thereto in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the packs on said incoming conveyor, pack supporting rollers carried by said platform and adapted to receive packs from said incoming conveyor, a brake for said rollers, spring means operating to prevent rotation of at least some of said rollers when said elevator is raised above its bottom position and to release said rollers when said elevator reaches its bottom position, motor means for urging said platform in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the incoming packs, and a vertically extending guide member positioned at the side of said elevator toward which said platform is urged by said motor means and adapted to be engaged by and guide the plates of a pack during upward movement of said elevator.

6. In a pack-handling elevator, a plunger, a head frame on the plunger, a first set of rollers mounted on the head frame, a platform movably mounted on the first set of rollers, a motor on the head frame continuously urging the platform transversely of the axes of the first set of rollers, and, mounted on the platform, a second set of rollers the axes of which run transversely of the axes of the first set of rollers.

7. A pack-handling elevator as in claim 6 in which a brake system which is moveable with the platform acts on the second set of rollers.

8. A pack-handling elevator as in claim 7 in which the brake system includes an energizing spring carried by the platform.

9. A pack-handling elevator as in claim 8 in which the platform carries means acting on the spring to de-energize the brake system.

ELWIN A. MATTESON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

